Appy Days – the Value of the App Economy

As the Apple App store turns five, Michael Mandel of the Progressive Policy Institute updated his estimates of the effect of the device on the economy. He finds there are more than three quarters of a million “App Economy” jobs in the United states.

He further finds that this is an area of continued rapid growth and that app economy jobs are popping up around the country. He raises the spectre of regulations putting a damper on this growth, especially in the area of free apps. Those looking at privacy regulations (particularly, but not only, in Europe) should do so with eyes open to the potential consequences.